Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga has asked Kenyans to keep him and the coalition in their prayers ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the presidential election petition.
Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Meru leaders on Sunday, September 4, Raila made a clarion call for his supporters to pray for peace to prevail even after the judgement is made.
He reiterated that the petition was a quest for justice, which he hoped would prevail on Monday, September 5, for the sake of Kenyans.
“Kenyans should continue to have us in their prayers, we pray for peace and wisdom. We hope that the supreme court will deliver a fair ruling which will help us to strengthen the democracy in the country,” the flagbearer reiterated.
The former Prime Minister affirmed his belief in the judicial system. However, when questioned on whether he would accept the outcome of the court, he declined to give a definite answer.
“I will not want to speculate or anticipate the outcome of the court. I believe that our judges are people who are learned, qualified and are fair and therefore will deliver a just ruling,” Odinga remarked.
Earlier in Nakuru, president-elect William Ruto welcomed the petition challenging his victory, terming him it as a manifestation that the Kenya is a country guided by the constitution.
Ruto insisted that nobody was above the law, and promised to accept the decision of the seven-judge-bench led by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
“The will respect the decision of the Supreme Court the same way way that we respected the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) when it announced the results of the election. No one is above the law, we are all equals,” Ruto reiterated.
The apex court is set to deliver on the ruling on September 5, which is the last of the 14-day constitutional timeline to given to the court to determine the petition.
Eight petitioners filed cases contesting the declaration by IEBC on April 15 that rendered Ruto the president-elect. The petitions were consolidated into one during the pre-trial conference.
The court may either validate the results of the August 9 General Election or annul it, and consequently call for a run off between Raila and Ruto.